Reproductive Health Psychology

This volume provides a comprehensive, up-to-date theoretical and
empirical background to the psychology of reproductive health.

Provides a life span perspective of the psychology of
reproductive health and its disorders, from menarche to menopause
and reproductive health in older age

Focuses on issues of the individual's reproductive health
experience, including reproduction, pregnancy, maternity, and
birth, as well as conditions such as PMDD, dysmenorrhea, and events
including pregnancy failure, and abortion

Acknowledges the wider social context with discussions of
poverty, inequality, educational and economic status, age, and
urban versus rural access

Olga B.A. van den Akker is Professor of Health Psychology
and head of Department at Middlesex University London. Since
completing her BSc and PhD in Psychology, she carried out
post-doctoral research at the Institute of Psychiatry and St.
George's and St. Mary's hospitals London, and held senior academic
posts at a number of other UK Universities. She currently carries
out research into the health psychology of challenging reproductive
behaviours.

“I thoroughly recommend this textbook to researchers in
this field – as the author’s hard work has made it a
lot easier for the rest of us to grasp the evidence!.”
(Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 7 January
2013)

"It is difficult not to appreciate the extensive work that
has gone into researching and compiling evidence for each chapter
of this textbook to provide a concise, accessible and comprehensive
overview. I thoroughly recommend this textbook to researchers in
this field – as the author’s hard work has made it a
lot easier for the rest of us to grasp the evidence!" Journal
of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 2012

"...(this book) will be of considerable value to both
undergraduate and post-graduate students who are studying
reproductive health. However, its coverage and accessibility mean
that it deserves to be widely read by anyone with an academic,
professional or personal interest in human reproduction."
Bionews, November 2012

This wide-ranging and well-researched book goes well beyond the
traditional confines of reproductive psychology. It expertly
interweaves evidence on the biological, psychological, social and
cultural factors that affect the reproductive development,
behaviours, and decision-making of both women and men. As well as
the expected chapters on sexual development, pregnancy and birth,
and artificial reproduction, it addresses sex and gender
development across the lifespan, from childhood to old age;
parenthood; and reproductive issues for under-represented groups
such as homosexual men and women, intersex individuals, and those
who are childless by choice. The book will be a valuable reference
for psychologists and sociologists, as well as midwives,
gynaecologists and obstetricians, and indeed anyone with research
or clinical interests that intersect with reproduction and with
gender.
—Christina Lee, Professor of Health
Psychology, University of Queensland

This book provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction
to psychological aspects of reproductive health throughout the
lifespan. Drawing on psychological theory and a wealth of empirical
research, the importance of psychological factors in reproductive
health is clearly demonstrated, conceptualised within a broadly
bio-psycho-social model. The coverage of a broad range of topics,
from foetal growth to menopause, including adolescence,
menstruation, contraception, abortion, fertility, pregnancy and
post-natal experience along the way, is a great strength. This book
will become a key resource for health psychologists, nurses, and
medical students who wish to understand psychological aspects of
reproductive experience.
—Jane M Ussher, Professor of Women’s
Health Psychology, University of Western Sydney and Author of
‘The Madness of Women: Myth and Experience’

Digital version available through Wiley Online Library

Instructors

Permissions

To apply for permission please send your request to permissions@wiley.com with
specific details of your requirements. This should include, the Wiley title(s), and the specific portion of the content you wish to re-use
(e.g figure, table, text extract, chapter, page numbers etc), the way in which you wish to re-use it, the circulation/print run/number of people
who will have access to the content and whether this is for commercial or academic purposes. If this is a republication request please include details
of the new work in which the Wiley content will appear.